Parnassos Literary Society

{{short description|Literary society in Greece}}

File:Athina - Syllogos Parnassou - 1896 - Schule.JPG

File:Roilos-georgios-poets-parnassos-literary-club.jpg, Georgios Drossinis, Ioannis Polemis, Palamas at the center, Georgios Souris and Aristomenis Provelengios, poets of the New Athenian School (or Palamian School). Paninting by Georgios Roilos]]

The Parnassos Literary Society ({{langx|el|Φιλολογικός Σύλλογος Παρνασσός}}) was founded in 1865 in Athens and has published various magazines. The oldest literary society in mainland Greece,The Reading Society of Corfu (Αναγνωστική Εταιρία Κερκύρας) was created in 1836 ([http://www.anagnostikicorfu.com/index.asp?lng=en website]) it continues to be active today.

The Society was founded on 24 June 1865 by the four children of the numismatist {{Interlanguage link multi|Pavlos Lambros|el|3=Παύλος Λάμπρος}} to contribute to the spiritual, social, and moral improvement of the Greek people through its events. Its first president was Michael Lambros. The club quickly became well-known, and functioned as a sort of Academy with literary, archaeological, legal, artistic and even scientific sections. It organized lectures, exhibitions, and various competitions. In 1872, at the suggestion of S. Vassiliadis, it opened a night school for destitute children. The historian Constantine Paparrigopoulos became honorary chairman.

It was officially recognized as a nonprofit organization by the Greek state on March 17, 1875.

The club is now housed in a private mansion on the St. George Square designed by Ifikratis Kokkidis (Ιφικράτης Κοκκίδης). The club has a valuable library and art gallery with 250 works by Greek artists.